albert



(No Model.)

0. F. ALBERT.

MUTE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

No. 335,872. Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

FIGQZ,

CHARLES F. ALBERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEXNSYLVANIA.

MUTE FOR STRlNG so insraoivaears.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 335,872, dated February 9, 1886.

Application filed October 19, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. ALBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Mute for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved mute for the violin, viola, violincello, or similar stringed instrument, as fully described and claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view illustrating my attachment applied to the bridge of aviolin. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustratinga further improvement. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side view corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, embodying a further improvement; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one form of my improvement detached from the bridge of the instrument.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the ordinary bridge, over which pass the strings a of the instrument.

' llIutes of the ordinary construction, as applied to the bridge of a violin or similar in strument, extend but a limited distance above the top of the bridge, the main portion being in the form of legs, which embrace the bridge itself; but I have found that by constructing a mute which shall have its upper portion extend above the bridge to a length equal or nearly equal to the height of the bridge itself a much more uniform and pleasing quality of tone can be obtained than with a mute of the ordinary form. Thus it will be seen on reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 that the legs I) of the mute B, which embrace the bridge, are comparatively short, while the body of the mute extends above the top of the bridge to a length equal or nearly equal to the height of the bridge itself.

In order to still further improve the quality of tone obtained with my improved mute, I cut the bottom of the groove, by which the legs I) b are formed, on a curve, 00, Fig. 3, corresponding with the curve of the top of the bridge, the mute thereby becoming a more integral part of the bridge, to vibrate with it Serial No. 180,331. (No model.)

under the action of the strings. In mutes of the ordinary construction the bottom of this groove in the mute is usually straight, so that it cannot rest on the top of the bridge at more than one point, whereas in my device the mute has a firm bearing on the top of the rest throughout its width, except where the notches occur for the passage of the two central strings, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper part of the mute B, I have shown in the drawings as in the form of a flat plate, which may be in one piece with or may be attached to the portion which carries the legs I), or of which the legs are formed.

\Vhere it is desired to still further soften the tone, or, in other words, to increase the action of the mute, the detachable piece D, Figs. 4 and 7, may be applied to the upper plate portion of the mute proper. This detachable piece D may be in the form of a solid or hol low sphere, Fig. 1, or flattened ball, Fig. 7, with a slit or groove for the reception of the plain portion of the mute proper. This detachable piece D has the effect of lessening the vibrations, and I prefer to make it of some such material as hard rubber, papier-mach, or wood. Its shape may be varied to suit the user; but I prefer to make it of the flattened form shown in Fig. 7.

For convenience I prefer to use the upper part of the mute as a string-gage, the top edge and side edges of the plate above the bridge forming convenient points for the notches to test the different strings.

In the drawings I have illustrated a construction of gage for which I have applied for patent December 12, 1885, Serial No. 185,497.

IVhere it is desired to make the mute and gage above described in more economical form, I may stamp it all out of sheet metal, with three legs, I) b b, the third leg, b, being bent, so that when applied to the bridge it will be on one side thereof, while the two legs b b are on the other side, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

I claim as my invention 1. A mute for a violin or other instrument, having its portion which extends above the bridge equal or nearly equal in length to the height of the bridge.

2. A mute for a violin or similar instrument, having the bottom of the slot between In testimony WhereofIhave signed my name the legs which embrace the bridge on a curve to this specification in the presence of two subcorresponding with the top of said bridge. scribing witnesses.

3. A mute for a violin or similar instru- 5 ment, having a detachable piece, D, substan- C. F. ALBERT.

tially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A mute for a violin or similar instrn- \Vitne'sses: ment, having in its upper part a gage for the WILLIAM F. DAVIS, strings of the instrument, substantially as set HARRY SMITH.

1o forth. 

